a week in Foya

We are implementing a women's integrated agriculture program from USAID right now in Lofa County.  I haven't been able to see the project yet this year and was finally able to stop by when I was in Lofa last week!  Part of the program is swamp rice, piggeries and fishponds for the women to operate.  These women are coming with the rice seedlings to transplant into the swamp.

It's a lot of work, but a great project! 

I was able to see a few of my adult literacy classes that week also.  This beginner class was learning the letter "c".

Here is an image of one of our beautiful fishponds!

We had a team visiting from the UK, here to work with our WASH (water and sanitation) projects.  I really just felt led to hand the camera off to Bev and get my hands dirty in building a water filter for the first time!  I have photographed and used these filters for 4 years now and have never built one myself. Well, the time finally came and I had a blast doing it!

While we waited for our filters to cure, we moved on to another important aspect of sanitation- latrines! Think about how many times you use the bathroom in your house or at your work place.  Now think about what it would be like if you didn't have a toilet to use... where would you go?  Do you realize how much "stuff" flies can transport and land on your food?  Gross, hey?  Well we also help communities build their own latrines, so they have a place they can go and can also become healthier.  I was able to help the team construct a latrine for a family in Yengbemi-- well at least the first half of the construction!  I had a blast chucking the 'country plaster' between mud bricks!

Here is our structure!

The UK team with our WASH staff and their completed, brand new filters!  Thanks team, for all of your hard work!